Camera with a delayed shutter release function

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling the delayed shutter release function comprises a physical separate processing unit (COM) and camera (CAM) which supplies images to the processing unit (COM) to be displayed on a display screen (DS), a hardware or software shutter release button (HSRB; SSRB) is provided, which, when activated by a user, triggers the start of a delay period, a communication link (CL) between the camera (CAM) and the processing unit (COM) allows exchange of control information between the camera (CAM) and the processing unit (COM) to control the delayed shutter release function.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for and a method of controlling adelayed shutter release function of a camera. The invention furtherrelates to a camera and a processing unit suitable for use in such asystem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Web cams may have a hardware or software snapshot button. The web cam iscoupled to a computer to display its image on a display screen of adisplay apparatus. Usually, the hardware snapshot button is physicallyprovided on the web cam. When the user activates the hardware snapshotbutton, the video stream provided by the web cam is instantly frozen andthe image at the instant the button is activated is displayed. If asoftware snapshot button is provided by the suitably programmedcomputer, the user activates this button with an input device connectedto the computer, and again the image is frozen at the instant the buttonis activated.

The use of the snapshot button in the known web cams often leads to afrozen image with a non-optimal composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a shutter release functionin a system comprising a camera and a processing unit leading to animproved composition of the snapshot.

A first aspect of the invention provides a system for controlling adelayed shutter release function as defined in claim 1. A second aspectof the invention provides a method of controlling a delayed shutterrelease function in a system of a camera and a processing unit asdefined in claim 7. A third aspect of the invention provides a camera asdefined in claim 8. A fourth aspect of the invention provides aprocessing unit as defined in claim 9. Advantageous embodiments aredefined in the dependent claims.

The system for controlling the delayed shutter release functioncomprises a processing unit (which preferably is a computer) and acamera which supplies images to the computer. Usually, the images aredisplayed on a display screen connected to the computer. The computerand the camera are physically separated. A hardware or software shutterrelease button is provided, which, when activated by a user, triggersthe start of a delay period. At the end of the delay period the image isfrozen. A communication link is provided between the camera and thecomputer allowing exchange of control information between the camera andthe computer to control the delayed shutter release function.

The time which elapses during the delay period allows the user to findan optimal position with respect to the camera, thereby improving thecomposition of the image. Preferably, the delay period is generated witha countdown operation.

In the prior art web cams, it is very difficult to obtain the desiredcomposition because the user has to reach for the hardware button on theweb cam, or the user has to carefully position the mouse pointer overthe software generated button on the display screen to activate thisbutton. These actions heavily distract the user from keeping the correctposition with respect to the web cam.

JP-A-100327335 discloses a digital camera with a button for setting atimer mode in which a timer value is set for an automatic shutter. Thetimer value and its counting down is displayed on a LCD of the camera.In a system in which this prior art camera is connected to a computer,no control information is send via a communication link between thecamera and the computer to control the delayed operation of the shutter.The timed shutter is completely controlled by the camera.

In an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim 2, the cameracomprises a hardware shutter release button. When the shutter releasebutton is activated, a start command is generated and supplied to thecomputer via the communication link. The computer is suitably programmedto perform a countdown operation when the start command is received. Thecomputer supplies an activation command to the camera via thecommunication link at the end of the count down operation. The cameratakes a snapshot in response to the activation command.

In an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim 3, the shutterrelease button is generated by software running on the computer. Thebutton is displayed on a display screen. The user has to handle an inputdevice to position a pointer over the software generated button on thedisplay screen to activate this button and the delay operation. At theend of the delay operation, the computer sends a control command to thecamera via the communication link to take the snapshot.

In an embodiment of the invention as claimed in claim 4, the cameracomprises a hardware shutter release button and a countdown counter.When the shutter release button is activated, a countdown operationstarts and the camera generates countdown status information indicatinga status of the countdown operation. The countdown status information istransported to the computer via the communication link. The computer issuitably programmed to provide feedback information to the user aboutthe status of the countdown operation. The camera takes a snapshot atthe end of its internal countdown operation.

These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will beelucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the figures, the same references refer to the same elements.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention. A camera CAMcomprises a hardware shutter release button HSRB, a start commandgenerator CSG, a shutter controller SCC and an interface I1. Theprocessing unit COM comprises a circuit CD for performing a delayoperation and an interface I2. The delay operation is preferably acountdown operation. The circuit CD may be a suitably programmed dataprocessing unit (for example a personal computer) or a dedicatedhardware circuit. The camera CAM and the processing unit COM communicatevia a communication link CL which is arranged between the interfaces I1and I2.

When the shutter release button HSRB on the camera CAM is activated, thestart command generator CSG generates a start command SC which issupplied to the processing unit COM via the communication link CL. Theprocessing unit COM is suitably programmed to perform the countdownoperation when the start command SC is received. At the end of thecountdown operation, the processing unit COM supplies an activationcommand AC to the camera CAM via the communication link CL. The cameraCAM comprises a shutter controller SCC which generates a snapshotcontrol signal SHC to control the shutter to take a snapshot in responseto the received activation command AC.

The start command generator CSG and the shutter controller SCC may bededicated hardware or a suitably programmed computer.

The communication link CL may be a separate hardware link via a suitablecommunication interface, for example a USB interface. The information tobe exchanged via the communication link may also be coded on existingsignal, for example the video signal, which must be transported from thecamera CAM to the processing unit COM anyhow. The communication link CLmay also be a wireless link. In the situation that the camera CAM andthe processing unit COM are connected to a network, the communicationmay also be performed via the network as is elucidated in more detail inFIG. 4.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention. A camera CAMcomprises the shutter controller SCC. The processing unit COM comprisesa data processing unit DPU which is preferably a suitably programmedcomputer. The camera CAM and the processing unit COM communicate via thecommunication link CL. The data processing unit DPU supplies displaydata DA to a display screen DS of a display apparatus.

The data processing unit DPU generates display data DA for showing thevideo information from the camera CAM on the display screen DS in anarea CP, and for displaying a software shutter release button is an areaSSRB. When the shutter release button SSRB is selected and activatedwith a suitable input device ID connected to the processing unit COM,the data processing unit DPU starts a countdown operation. At the end ofthe countdown operation, the processing unit COM supplies an activationcommand AC to the camera CAM via the communication link CL. The cameraCAM comprises a shutter controller SCC which generates a snapshotcontrol signal SHC to control the shutter to take a snapshot in responseto the received activation command AC.

In this second embodiment in accordance with the invention, the shutterrelease button SSRB is generated by the data processing unit or computerCOM and displayed on the display screen DS. The user has to handle aninput device DI to position a pointer over the software generated buttonSSRB on the display screen DS to activate this button SSRB, andconsequently the countdown operation. At the end of the countdownoperation, the computer COM sends the control command CD to the cameraCAM via the communication link CL to take the snapshot. The computer COMmay generate a feedback to the user indicating the status of thecountdown operation.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention.

The camera CAM comprises the hardware shutter release button HRSB, thedown counter CDU, the shutter controller SCC, and a countdown statusgenerator CDS.

When the shutter release button HRSB is activated, the countdown counterCDU starts to count down. The countdown status generator CDS in thecamera generates countdown status information which is supplied to thecomputer via the communication link CL. The processing unit COM issuitably programmed to provide feedback information to the user aboutthe status of the countdown operation. The camera CAM takes a snapshotat the end of its internal countdown operation when the countdowncounter CDU activates the shutter controller SCC.

The feedback information may be send to the display apparatus where itis displayed on the display screen DS in an area VF. The feedbackinformation may be displayed in any suitable manner, for example, as adown counting number, a flashing symbol, or by changing colors. Thedisplay area VF for the feedback information may also be completely orpartly within the area CP in which the image of the camera is displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a system for controlling a delayedshutter release function in accordance with the invention. Both thecamera CAM and the processing unit or computer COM are connected to anetwork NE. The distribution of the functions over the camera CAM andthe computer COM may be in accordance with any of the previousembodiments shown in FIG. 1 to 3. By way of example, FIG. 4 shows thatthe computer provides the down counter and the user feedback, and thecamera CAM the hardware shutter release button HSRB. The computer COMgenerates the software shutter release button SSRB and the user feedbackon the display screen DS. The operation of the system depends on whichshutter release button is activated. If the hardware shutter releasebutton HSRB is activated, the system operates is described with respectto FIG. 1. If the software shutter release button SSRB is activated, thesystem operates as described with respect to FIG. 2. It is of course notrequired to provide both a hardware and a software shutter releasebutton. The user feedback may also be produced by a loudspeaker LSsuitably driven by the computer COM.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustraterather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art willbe able to design many alternative embodiments without departing fromthe scope of the appended claims.

For example, if suitable the invention can be implemented by means ofhardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of asuitably programmed computer.

Features described with respect to one of the embodiments may becombined with features of another embodiment. For example, thecommunication link may be wireless in all embodiments, or the feedbackto the user about the countdown status may be visual or auditive or bothin all embodiments.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parenthesis shall notbe construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does notexclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in aclaim. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of thesemeans can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware.

1. A system for controlling a delayed shutter release function andcomprising: a camera (CAM) with a shutter and a shutter controller (SCC)for activating the shutter in response to an activation command (AC), aprocessing unit (COM) being physically separated from the camera (CAM),a user activateable shutter release button (HSRB; SSRB), delay means(CD, DPU; CDU) for generating the activation command (AC) having a timedelay with respect to an instant of activation of the shutter releasebutton (HSRB; SSRB), and a communication link (CL) for exchanging atleast one control signal (SC, AC) between the camera (CAM) and theprocessing unit (COM) to control the delayed shutter release function.2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera (CAM) comprises:the shutter release button (HSRB), a camera interface (I1) for supplyinga first one of the at least one control signal (SC, AC) being a startcommand (SC) to the processing unit (COM) via the communication link(CL), and a control means (CSG) for supplying the start command (SC) tothe camera interface (I1) in response to the shutter release button(HSRB; SSRB) being activated, the processing unit (COM) furthercomprises an processor interface (I2) for supplying a second one of theat least one control signal (SC) being the activation command (AC) tothe camera (CAM) via the communication link (CL), the processing unit(COM) being programmed for generating the time delay in response to thestart command (AC) and for supplying the activation command (AC) to theprocessor interface (I2).
 3. A system as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising a display screen (DS), the processing unit (COM) beingprogrammed for: displaying (COM) a shutter release button (SSRB) on thedisplay screen (DS), generating (COM) the time delay and, supplying(COM) the at least one control signal (SC, AC) being the activationcommand (AC) via the communication link (CL) to the camera (CAM), thecamera (CAM) further comprises a camera interface (I1) for receiving theactivation command (AC).
 4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecamera (CAM) comprises: the shutter release button (HSRB), the delaymeans (CDU) comprising a countdown counter for starting a countdownoperation in response to the activation of the shutter release button(HSRB; SSRB), and status means (CDS) for generating the at least onecontrol signal (SC, AC) being a countdown status information (CDSI)indicating the status of the countdown operation, and the processingunit (COM) being programmed to generate feedback information (DA; ADA)providing the countdown status information (CDSI) to a user.
 5. A systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (COM) is furtherprogrammed for generating feedback information (DA; ADA) providing astatus of the countdown operation to a user.
 6. A system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the camera (CAM) is a web cam, and the processing unit(COM) is a computer.
 7. A method of controlling a delayed shutterrelease function in a system comprising: a camera (CAM) with a shutter,a processing unit (COM) being physically separated from the camera(CAM), a shutter release button (HSRB; SSRB), and a communication link(CL), the method: generating an activation command (AC) having a timedelay with respect to an instant of activation of the shutter releasebutton (HSRB; SSRB), activating (SCC) the shutter in response to theactivation command (AC), and exchanging at least one control signal (SC,AC) between the camera (CAM) and a processing unit (COM) via thecommunication link (CL) to control the delayed shutter release function.8. A camera (CAM) suitable for use in a system as claimed in claim
 2. 9.A processing unit (COM) suitable for use in a system as claimed in claim2.